It was as if clouds obscuring the sun were suddenly swept away by the wind.
As Qiongqi carried Xu Mu out of the ground, the golden-purple point bar illuminated the entire dark and dim space.
"What's happening!"
On the mountain peaks thousands of meters away, cultivators exclaimed in unison, then opened their eyes, wondering if an opportunity had appeared where the light was.
But immediately after, they covered their eyes again and cried out:
"It hurts!"
"Why is it so bright? I'm going blind! Could it be the sun?"
"Even if there were a sun, it shouldn't be in this position."
Changsun Wuji's expression was solemn as he used his abilities to protect his face.
Because day or night, the space here was always dim and yellowish, their eyes had long adapted to this lightless environment. Suddenly facing a bright light would naturally cause stinging pain.
But once their abilities flowed and covered their eyeballs, they could look directly at the source of the light. After adaptation, even without their abilities, it wouldn't be a significant issue.
This was precisely what he was doing now.
In fact, he had sensed a golden light before this, but it had vanished in an instant.
"I want to see what exactly this is."
The man took a deep breath and probed carefully.
He then discovered that the bright light was actually emanating from Xu Mu's head.
It wasn't ordinary light, but a point bar.
Changsun Wuji was greatly startled, then puzzled:
"Golden-purple, how many points is that?"
From such a distance, Changsun Wuji couldn't clearly see the tiny numbers within because the light was too bright, and Xu Mu was moving, making it difficult to discern.
He could only vaguely see a number at the beginning, a number typically seen only in classrooms: "7."
Others had also opened their eyes by now and saw Xu Mu.
"Blue is a thousand, purple is over three thousand, and over ten thousand is orange. What about that golden-purple?"
"I can only vaguely see a seven, so is it seventy thousand?!"
Someone calculated in a low voice and was then shocked.
Xu Mu's points had more than doubled in just a few hours in the mine, jumping from nearly thirty thousand to seventy thousand.
Nan Feng had spent so many days painstakingly acting as a bandit and had only accumulated less than thirty thousand, which was less than what Xu Mu had gained in a few hours.
Was this, perhaps, the difference between people?
"No, you've miscalculated."
But just as everyone assumed Xu Mu's points were seventy thousand, Changsun Wuji suddenly spoke.
He had put in considerable effort and finally managed to see the tiny subsequent numbers amidst the flickering light.
The number did start with a 7, but the suffix was too long, clearly more than seventy thousand.
"It's seven hundred thousand."
"Alliance Leader Xu Mu has seven hundred thousand points!"
Changsun Wuji exclaimed, his voice trembling.
He was now like petrified wood struck by lightning, incredibly shocked.
But thinking of the royal dignity involved, he could only force himself to remain calm, yet his voice still trembled uncontrollably.
Changsun Wuji doubted his own eyes.
Seven hundred thousand, how was that possible?
He must have misread it!
But as he shook his head to confirm again, the people around him also saw clearly and cried out in shock:
"Over seven hundred thousand, it's really over seven hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred sixty-three thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, seven hundred sixty-three thousand eight hundred and twenty-one!"
"My heavens..."
Everyone exclaimed frantically, shouting and repeating the unimaginable number as if stimulated.
Because even a fraction of that number was more than what most of them possessed.
"This kid, he truly is..."
Even Yin Zhongxiu, who was accustomed to being shocked by Xu Mu, couldn't help but force a bitter smile.
Over seven hundred thousand points; even if the timer for this stage ran out, the combined points of everyone present might not reach that total, yet Xu Mu had achieved it in a few hours.
"With Alliance Leader Xu Mu, we are truly fortunate."
Someone couldn't help but sigh. As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Xu Mu had reaped a massive harvest, and they, following him, would likely receive some benefits.
"Over seven hundred thousand points, if converted into treasures, would be enough for us brothers to dominate for a lifetime!"
In the darkness, a cultivator sighed silently.
He was not the only one with ulterior motives.
Xu Mu's points could only be described as outrageous. This was an immense temptation for the Fourth Stage ability users who had come seeking opportunities, as it could be exchanged for many powerful cultivation techniques or magical artifacts.
Thus, countless people harbored wicked intentions, planning to rob him. Some even secretly contacted Nan Feng, who had already escaped.
Because in their minds, Xu Mu was still powerful, and no amount of help would be enough. Nan Feng was precisely the most indispensable part of that equation, especially since Xu Mu had killed Fang Jia.
Amidst this mix of surprise and chaotic commotion, someone suddenly called out strangely:
"Eh!"
"Why is Alliance Leader Xu Mu getting further and further away from us?"
Everyone heard this and froze. Then, they hurriedly widened their eyes to look and found that it was indeed as the person had said.
Everything that had just happened had occurred in an instant, and they had all been so stunned by the golden-purple numbers that they hadn't paid attention to Xu Mu's direction.
Now, they could see that within the gradually dimming golden-purple light, Xu Mu, riding the great demon that could breathe fire, was rapidly flying in the opposite direction, his figure becoming smaller and smaller.
Just as he was about to disappear, Xu Mu's soul transmission echoed back:
"Patriarch Changsun, I will leave everything here to you. Upon our return, I will surely reward you handsomely."
"The opportunities here are exhausted. I need to go deeper to find Lord Yaohuo. It is a very distant place, and it is inconvenient for me to travel with you all."
"Farewell, everyone!"
Xu Mu didn't give Changsun Wuji or anyone else a chance to speak, and quickly vanished into the horizon.
On the mountain peak, everyone looked at each other, then stood stunned like wooden statues.
What did he mean the opportunities here were exhausted and the rest of the journey was inconvenient to travel together? This clearly meant he wanted to keep the rewards all to himself!
"Alliance Leader Xu is truly..."
A cultivator who had been planning to organize a robbery was taken aback by Xu Mu's move. He was about to curse angrily when he suddenly realized that people from the Demon Subduing Division were present.
Yin Zhongxiu tidied his disheveled hair and wrinkled red robe, cleared his throat, and said:
"Since Xu Mu has departed, we cannot be without a leader here."
"I believe Patriarch Changsun can take on the position of Alliance Leader."
He turned to look at the regal figure standing prominently in the center of the crowd.
Yin Zhongxiu's expression was serious; an Alliance Leader was essential.
Rather than letting others vie for it, it was better to act first. Besides, Changsun Wuji had always sided with Xu Mu, so he should be trustworthy.
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.
Xu Mu's business wasn't even finished, and they were already selecting a new Alliance Leader?
"We agree!"
The elders of the Changsun family were the first to speak. Their patriarch was about to become the Alliance Leader, so naturally, they supported it.
"Agreed."
"I agree too!"
"It seems this is the only way..."
One by one, the异人 (Yiren - ability users) expressed their assent, seemingly settling the matter.
Changsun Wuji listened to the murmurs of the crowd, looked at Yan Yu lying on the ground, and then at Xu Mu who had disappeared into the sky. He fell silent.
The shimmering golden-purple point bar was imprinted in his mind.
After a long pause, a smile appeared on his face:
"Alright."
Changsun Wuji agreed, and an unnatural flush suddenly appeared on his pale face.